While I understand the point of the amendment, we rely on health care providers to make this determination every day with regard to informed consent, with regard to accessing expert services, if required, in order to satisfy themselves that this decision is being made freely and voluntarily.
I believe what Mr. Bittle said earlier, that instituting safeguards that they feel are appropriate in order to address the issue is clearly something that should be left up to the medical profession and the provinces to deal with. I don't believe it's appropriate for the Criminal Code to be placing this onus on them when we rely already on health care professionals every day to make the determination about what is valid consent and not. I would note that we don't require any sort of similar scheme for other issues dealing with end of life, whether it be withdrawal services, for example. I believe this is adequately addressed by the medical profession. We should trust our doctors and nurse practitioners to make those decisions, which we rely on every day.